As the Boston Celtics gear up for their Sunday afternoon showdown against the Toronto Raptors, the team has dropped a major roster bombshell that could reshape their depth heading into the final stretch of the season.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Celtics are signing two-way wing Ron Harper Jr. to a new two-year deal. Harper’s agent, Drew Gross of WME Basketball, confirmed the news to ESPN.
The move promotes the 25-year-old from his two-way contract to a standard NBA roster spot, giving him greater security and making him eligible for the postseason. It’s a significant vote of confidence from the Celtics front office after Harper carved out a meaningful role this season.
In 26 games with Boston this year — including two starts — Harper has averaged 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 10.3 minutes per game. He has shot 39.8% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. While his numbers are modest in limited minutes, he has provided valuable energy, versatility, and defensive contributions off the bench at times.
Harper has been even more dominant with the Maine Celtics in the G League, where he has starred in 10 regular-season games. There, he’s posted impressive averages of 24.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game, showing he can be a dominant two-way force when given the opportunity.
The former Rutgers standout went undrafted in 2022 and began his NBA journey with the Toronto Raptors, appearing in 10 games across his first three seasons. He has since bounced between G League stints and brief NBA opportunities, including a stop with the Detroit Pistons in 2025, before finding a more stable home in Boston.
This two-year commitment represents a major step forward in Harper’s career. After years of grinding on two-way deals and Exhibit 10 contracts, the son of NBA legend Ron Harper has finally earned a multi-year standard deal — a testament to his persistence, development, and recent contributions to the Celtics’ rotation.
With the Celtics sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings (52-25), this roster decision adds depth and flexibility as they prepare for a tough stretch run and the playoffs. Harper’s ability to stretch the floor and impact the game on both ends could prove valuable, especially with Sunday’s matchup against his former team, the Toronto Raptors (43-34), looming at TD Garden.
Boston’s front office has once again shown they’re willing to reward players who produce when called upon — and in this case, the decision feels anything but routine.